City Allergy

Category: Patient Education > Nasal & Sinus  

Vasomotor Rhinitis (Nonallergic Rhinitis)

Vasomotor rhinitis is one way the nose responds to an irritant.  It is an exaggerated reflex response.  For instance, it’s normal to get a runny nose in cold air but some people are hypersensitive and have nasal symptoms with the slightest irritant.      The irritant triggers may include perfumes, smoke, changes in temperature or barometric pressure, spicy foods or alcohol.  The most common symptom is a clear runny nose but others include sneezing fits, nasal congestion and sinus discomfort.  Symptoms might even worsen during allergy season but it may be the  irritation of pollen grains rather the allergy that is the problem.  It is common to have both allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis.

Diagnosis:  The history sometimes suggests the diagnosis but allergy testing is helpful.  If allergy skin tests are negative then the diagnosis a positive test does not rule it out.

Management:  Nasal sprays are quite effective for most patients (antihistamine sprays or steroid nasal sprays).  Rarely when the problem is related to chronically swollen nasal lining, office based nasal surgery may be helpful.